Customizable Learning Pathways
Your academic journey is anything but ordinary. At University College, learning is hands-on, collaborative, and built around you. Through immersive learning experiences; including future-focused minors, customized majors, stackable credentials, and industry-connected labs: you’ll shape an education that’s as unique as your aspirations. Our programs are designed to flex, blend, and evolve with you, integrating academic exploration with experiences that build practical skills and confidence. Here, you’ll design, prototype, collaborate, and solve real-world problems in immersive environments that encourage you to ask bold questions like “What if?” and “Why not?”
Built on Interdisciplinary Thinking
The real world doesn’t divide ideas into neat categories, and we don’t either. That’s the power of interdisciplinary education; where business meets the arts, science meets social impact, and technology meets creativity. By learning across disciplines, you’ll gain the kind of adaptable, big-picture thinking today’s world demands.
We're Here to Help
Backed by dedicated advisors and mentors, you’ll be supported at every step as you chart a path that reflects your passions, expands your perspective, and prepares you to thrive in a complex, ever-changing world. This is where curious minds push boundaries. This is where an uncommon journey begins.
Experiential Learning
Build real-world skills through hands-on experiences and opportunities like internships, community engagement, and undergraduate research. Through Transformative Learning our flexible programs help you stay ahead in an ever changing world.
Academic Programming
Our interdisciplinary majors, minors, certificates, and classes empower you to shape a personalized education. Whether you're blending fields or creating your own path, our programs help you lead with bold, cross-disciplinary thinking.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Through the nationally recognized da Vinci Center, students from all backgrounds collaborate to launch ventures, develop products, and bring big ideas to life: from Shift Retail Lab to industry partnerships.
Credit for Prior Learning
We value the knowledge gained outside the classroom. Returning students can earn academic credit by developing a portfolio that reflects their lived and professional experiences.
Academic Programs
Designed for all majors, this minor explores AI’s real-world applications and ethical impact across industries—preparing students to use AI thoughtfully in their chosen field.
Explore virtual, augmented, and mixed reality across tech, culture, art, and storytelling. This minor connects disciplines to prepare students for immersive, digitally-mediated futures.
Collaborate across disciplines to learn product design, development, and launch strategies. This certificate runs alongside your major and gives you hands-on experience in innovation.
The Certificate in Product Innovation program runs concurrently with a student’s major and is not a stand-alone program.
Gain the skills, mindset, and real-world experience to launch your own venture. Open to all majors, this program combines entrepreneurial thinking with immersive, team-based projects.
Curious about innovating, design thinking, or real-world problem-solving? These open-access courses welcome all majors and help you turn creative ideas into action.
Design a degree as unique as your goals. This program lets you build a customized, cross-disciplinary curriculum—available both on campus and online.
Create your own graduate-level path by combining coursework across fields. This program supports ambitious students seeking personalized, interdisciplinary study.
This cross-disciplinary graduate program brings together creators from design, business, engineering, healthcare, and the arts to solve complex challenges and develop market-ready solutions.
Offered by the School of Nursing and the da Vinci Center, this program trains future leaders to design innovative products and solutions in healthcare.
News & Events
VCU basketball player, IDS grad Joe Bamisile offers a big assist for mental health
His new app, developed in his undergraduate interdisciplinary studies program, is already finding an audience.
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VCU student brings the house down with Tiny Desk-style concert for capstone project
Blending music, event production, and community storytelling, this IDS senior Sam created a live Tiny Desk Concert experience that showcased local talent — and proved that innovation and heart can fit behind any desk.
Congratulations to this Year's Class of Innovators!
Graduation marks more than the end of a chapter—it celebrates the creativity, grit, and growth of our students. Catch the moments, stories, and smiles in our upcoming photos and highlights.
